After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:20-23
Joseph kept Jesus safe. Dad’s do that. They keep their children safe. Its not always possible. After moving his family to Egypt to avoid Herod’s persecution, the time to return had come. Being cautious, Joseph avoided Judea and settled his family in Nazareth (in fulfillment of the prophecy ‘He would be called a Nazarene’).
How attentive am I to the safety of my family? Do I create the environment in my household that is physically, spiritually, and emotionally safe?
God, thank you for the quiet example of Joseph who took Mary into his life and raised the child Jesus. May I do well in raising my children, especially in this season as they have now become adults. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for each one… Kai, Eden, Keanu and Kaenan. (Kaister, Iggy, Yoggi, and Kaena-boo)
